Effect of Delay in Tuberculosis Diagnosis on Pre-Diagnosis Cost

Aldhubhani, Adel Hamood Noman; Ibrahim, Mohamed Izham Mohamed; Ibrahim, Pazilah; Anaam, Mohamed Saif; Alshakka, Mohamed

doi:10.5530/jppcm.2017.1.5

Cited by 1 publication

(1 citation statement)

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“…This finding was quite similar to a study conducted in Yemen which reported high patients' costs among the TB patients with delay in diagnosis (delayed group). 32 One study in Tamil Nadu found that the patients who first visited a private facility were 17 times more likely to have high direct pre-diagnosis cost (more than the median $7.7) and 1.8 times more likely to have health system delay (more than the median 21 days) than the patients who first visited a public health facility. 7 Even after providing free diagnosis and treatment services in the public health facilities by the NTEP in India, 2 most of the patients seek care at a private health facility, which is associated with a longer health system delay and total delay.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Diagnostic Pathways and Delays in Initiation of Treatment among Newly Diagnosed Tuberculosis Patients in Ballabgarh, India

Chandra

Kumar

Kant

et al. 2021

The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

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A delay in diagnosis and initiation of treatment in patients with tuberculosis (TB) can affect the period of communicability and cost of treatment. We aimed to describe the diagnostic pathways and delays in initiation of treatment among drug-sensitive newly diagnosed TB patients in Ballabgarh, India. In May 2019, we interviewed 110 TB patients who were put on treatment in the past 2 months. It was a cross-sectional study where data collection was conducted by a physician. We used a structured questionnaire to collect the information on care-seeking practices, delays, and patient’s cost. Descriptive analysis was carried out for the pathways, delays, and patient cost. The mean number of health facility contacted before the diagnosis of TB was 2.8 (SD: 1.3); 76% of patients first sought care at a private health facility. The median total delay was 34.5 (IQR: 21–60) days; median patient delay seven (IQR: 2–21) days, median health system delay 16 (IQR: 8–45) days, median diagnostic delay 32.5 (IQR: 18–57) days, and median treatment delay two (IQR: 1–3) days. Health system delay was 2.2 times longer than patient delay; the health system delay was primarily due to delay in diagnosis. Patients contacting private health facility first had 1.7 times total delay, 2.4 times longer health system delay, and 3.4 times of direct cost compared with patients contacting a public health facility first. Accelerated efforts are needed to achieve India’s target to eliminate TB by 2025.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%